Table I.
Qualified orthodontist years since qualification and state of practice
| n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Years since qualification | |
| <5 | 16 (10.1) |
| 6-10 | 19 (12.0) |
| 11-20 | 40 (25.3) |
| 21-30 | 41 (25.9) |
| >30 | 42 (26.5) |
| State of practice | |
| New South Wales | 46 (29.1) |
| Victoria | 38 (24.0) |
| Queensland | 27 (17.0) |
| Western Australia | 10 (6.3) |
| South Australia | 28 (17.7) |
| Australian Capital Territory | 6 (3.7) |
| Northern Territory | 0 (0) |
| Tasmania | 3 (1.8) |
Table II.
Trainee orthodontist years until qualification and state of practice
| n (%) | |
|---|---|
| Approx years until qualification | |
| 1 | 8 (25) |
| 2 | 10 (31.2) |
| 3 | 14 (43.7) |
| Intended state of practice | |
| New South Wales | 9 (28.1) |
| Victoria | 7 (21.8) |
| Queensland | 9 (28.1) |
| Western Australia | 0 (0) |
| South Australia | 1 (3.1) |
| Australian Capital Territory | 2 (6.2) |
| Northern Territory | 0 (0) |
| Tasmania | 0 (0) |
| Undecided | 4 (12.5) |
Table III.
Comparison of FTE units/clinician between different respondent groups
| Respondent group | Average FTE units/clinician (SD) | Comparison group | Difference in FTE units | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 years experience | 1.00 (0.21) | TOs | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| 6 to 10 years | 0.11 | 0.739 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | 0.13 | 0.487 | ||
| 21to 30 years | 0.21* | 0.039 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.37* | <0.001 | ||
| 6 to 10 years experience | 0.89 (0.19) | TOs | -0.11 | 0.572 |
| <5 years | -0.11 | 0.739 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | 0.01 | 1.000 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | 0.10 | 0.686 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.25* | 0.004 | ||
| 11 to 20 years experience | 0.87 (0.25) | TOs | -0.13 | 0.225 |
| <5 years | -0.13 | 0.487 | ||
| 6 to 10 years | -0.01 | 1.000 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | 0.08 | 0.611 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.23* | <0.001 | ||
| 21 to 30 years experience | 0.78 (0.26) | TOs | -0.22* | 0.003 |
| <5 years | -0.21* | 0.039 | ||
| 6 to 10 years | -0.10 | 0.686 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | -0.08 | 0.611 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.15 | 0.068 | ||
| 30+y experience | 0.63 (0.32) | TOs | -0.37* | <0.001 |
| <5 years | -0.37* | <0.001 | ||
| 6 to 10 years | -0.25* | 0.004 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | -0.23* | <0.001 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | -0.15 | 0.068 | ||
| Males | 0.83 (0.30) | Females | 0.00 | 0.998 |
| Prefer not to say | -0.10 | 0.796 | ||
| Females | 0.83 (0.22) | Males | -0.00 | 0.998 |
| Prefer not to say | -0.11 | 0.793 | ||
| Prefer not to say | 0.91 (0.14) | Males | 0.10 | 0.796 |
| Females | 0.11 | 0.793 | ||
| TOs | 1.01 (0.14) | <5 years | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| 6 to 10 years | 0.11 | 0.572 | ||
| 11 to 20 years | 0.13 | 0.225 | ||
| 21 to 30 years | 0.22* | 0.003 | ||
| 30+ years | 0.37* | <0.001 | ||
| <5 years | 0.00 | 1.00 |
Figure 1.
Factors reported to be relevant in decision of trainee and qualified orthodontists to only work in metropolitan areas.
Figure 2.
Factors which would most motivate trainee or qualified orthodontists to consider working in non-metropolitan areas.
Table IV.
Retirement intentions of QOs and TOs
| QOs | TOs | |
|---|---|---|
| From now, when do you intend to retire? | From qualification, when do you intend to retire? | |
| Time until retirement | n (% of total FTE) | n (% of total FTE) |
| <1year | 10 (4.6) | 0 (0) |
| 1 to 2 years | 9 (5.1) | 0 (0) |
| 2 to 5 years | 32 (20.2) | 0 (0) |
| 5 to 10 years | 28 (17.1) | 0 (0) |
| 10 to 20 years | 25 (18.2) | 3 (7.6) |
| 20 to 30 years | 19 (13.4) | 6 (19.1) |
| 30+years | 5 (2.9) | 11 (33.7) |
Figure 3.
Predicted FTE units entering and exiting the orthodontic workforce 2023-2033.
Figure 4.
Predicted net changes in FTE units for different types of orthodontic practice 2023-2033.
Table V.
QOs and TOs concerns about the future of orthodontics in Australia
| QOs | TOs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral n (%) | Minor concern n (%) | Major concern n (%) | Neutral n (%) | Minor concern n (%) | Major concern n (%) | |
| GDPs practicing orthodontics | 13 (8.2) | 74 (46.8) | 71 (44.9) | 4 (12.5) | 15 (46.8) | 13 (40.6) |
| Too many orthodontists | 57 (36.5) | 83 (53.2) | 16 (10.2) | 14 (43.7) | 12 (37.5) | 6 (18.7) |
| Not enough orthodontists in academia | 21 (13.4) | 53 (33.9) | 82 (52.5) | 11 (34.3) | 10 (31.2) | 11 (34.3) |
| Too few patients | 62 (39.7) | 78 (50) | 16 (10.2) | 13 (40.6) | 14 (43.7) | 5 (15.6) |
| DTC appliances | 27 (17.3) | 86 (55.1) | 43 (27.5) | 10 (31.2) | 10 (31.2) | 12 (37.5) |
| Corporate orthodontic practices | 33 (21.1) | 76 (48.7) | 47 (30.1) | 5 (15.6) | 15 (46.8) | 12 (37.5) |
| Not enough orthodontists in non-metropolitan areas | 32 (20.5) | 71 (45.5) | 53 (33.9) | 15 (46.8) | 13 (40.6) | 4 (12.5) |
| Artificial intelligence | 43 (27.5) | 90 (57.6) | 23 (14.7) | 13 (40.6) | 12 (37.5) | 7 (21.8) |
Table VI.
Qualified orthodontist concerns about the future of orthodontics in Australia (n = 19)
| Theme | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Cost of specialist training | 1 (5.2%) |
| Not enough trainee orthodontists interested in practice ownership | 1 (5.2%) |
| Insufficient orthodontists | 3 (15.7%) |
| Operating costs of practice ownership | 2 (10.5%) |
| Lack of interest in specialty training | 1 (5.2%) |
| Low quality orthodontic care driven by marketing | 3 (15.7%) |
| Not enough orthodontists in academia | 1 (5.2%) |
| Overseas orthodontists working in Australia without proper qualification | 2 (5.2%) |
| Public not aware/appreciative of specialist orthodontic qualifications | 2 (5.2%) |
| Shortage of orthodontists in non-metropolitan areas | 2 (10.5%) |
| ASO not doing enough for members | 3 (15.7%) |
| Staffing issues | 3 (15.7%) |